Of the 422 school districts in Wisconsin, 56% (235) schools will receive increased aid, and 43% (183) schools will receive decreased aid. Four districts will see no change in their state aid. As of July 1, two school districts are combining, so for the 2018-19 school year there will be 421 school districts.

WEAC President Ron Martin said the news underlines the importance of finding a solution to Wisconsin’s broken school funding system that creates winners and losers, year after year. “Every Wisconsin student deserves the support, tools and time to learn,” he said. “Where a child lives should not determine the quality of educational opportunities.”

The state Legislature just wrapped up a series of public hearings on school funding, and is expected to bring forward recommendations by this fall. “It’s worrisome that the panel had no classroom educators represented to talk about how unfair funding formulas impact students,” Martin said. “It’s also troubling that the commission leaders have said they likely won’t consider the draining effect of unaccountable private school vouchers on neighborhood public schools and state funding.”

A look at the numbers:

Minoqua J1 will receive the largest increase in state aid in 2018-19, 1,571.93%. Rounding out the top 10 are:

Minoqua J1: 1,571.93%

Crivitz: 84.67

New Auburn: 73.93%

Friess Lake 42.50%

North Cape: 41.97%

Princeton: 40.79%

Williams Bay: 40.09%

Cassville: 37.48%

Solon Springs: 34.78%

Raymond #4: 32.45%

Green Lake is receiving the largest reduction in school aids, losing 100%. The schools receiving the biggest reductions are:

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WEAC member Rick Erickson of Bayfield and WEAC Secretary-Treasurer Kim Schroeder are among the many WEAC members who participated in discussions during state budget listening sessions hosted by Governor-Elect Tony Evers and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Mandela Barnes. The Superior hearing Monday and the La Crosse hearing Tuesday were part of a series designed for the governor-elect to hear from citizens about what they would like to see in the state budget proposal he will present to the Legislature in January. WEAC members were also well-represented at earlier hearings in Green Bay and Wausau, and are also participating by providing their feedback on an online form created by WEAC for WEAC members.

Janesville Education Association members took leadership roles over the weekend in the School District of Janesville’s Bags of Hope event, delivering groceries to needy families and individuals. The event provided approximately two weeks of groceries to 350 families and students who qualify for free lunch.

Megan Faherty, high school history and psychology teacher and Vice President of the Greendale Education Association, attributes the strength of the Greendale Education Association (GEA) to “our ability to reach out to our members, find out what matters to them, and then organize around issues that are important to them.” … “We regularly complete member surveys and hold listening sessions to engage our members,” Megan told WEAC Vice President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen for her latest Spotlight on Locals column.